Steel car.



. No. 754,725. BATENTBD MAR.15,1904.

' P. WAGNER.

STEEL GAR.

APPLICATION IILEDDEO. 21, 1903; 30 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 754,725. PATENTED MAR. 15, 1904..

P. WAGNER.

STEEL GAR. YAPPLIOATION IILED DBO. 21, 1903.

IIHHIIIIHHII.

UNITE STATES Patented March 15, 1904.

' PATENT OFFICE.

PETER WAGNER, or NORTH BRADDOOK, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEEL CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,725, dated March15, 1904.

Application filed December 21, 1903. Serial No. 186,035. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern.-

Be it knownthat LPETER WAGNER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at North Braddock, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain new and usefulImprovements in Steel Cars, of which the following'is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in steelcars, and relates more particularly to thattype known as hopper-bottomcars.

In the transportation of ores, minerals, and other commodities it isawell-known fact that the contents of the car in extremely cold weatherwill freeze into a solid mass, and in- The present invention consists inproviding steel cars with double bottoms and sides forming steam-jacketsto convey the steam from the engine therein, by this means obtaining thedesired circulation of steam through the jackets and heating the cars tosuch an extent that the contents will be prevented from freezing into asolid mass.

My invention further consists in the introduction of steam between thewalls of the doors, the steam being conveyed thereto by means offlexible connections from the steamjackets; furthermore, in leading oneor more steam-lines from the engine forming the trainline ofsteam-supply which will directly communicate with the steam -jacketsformed in the cars, suitable couplings and flexible connectionsbeingprovided between the cars and also suitable valves interposed inthe steamlines for the purpose of regulating or cutting off steamwhen'the occasion requires.

My invention further consists in the novel construction, combination,and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, andspecifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forminga part of this application, and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews, in which Figure 1' is a top plan view of a car constructed inaccordance with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional viewthereof, showing the top partly broken away. Fig. 3

i is a. longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2.

In the drawings the reference-numeral 1 indicates the outer wall of thecar, and 2 the inner wall thereoflforming a steam-jacket 3 therebetween,these steam-jackets 3 communicating with steam-jackets 4:, which areformed by walls 5 and 6, respectively, forming the slanting bottoms ofthe car. the latter steam-jackets 4: directly communicating with thesteam-supply line 7 which leads to the engine, said supply-line 7 havinginterposed therein suitable regulating-valves 8 and flexible tubes andcouplings. (Not shown in the drawings.) Communicating with thesteam-jackets 4: are formed steam-jackets 9, extending longitudinallyand communicating with the central steam-dome 10, formed ofoppositely-inclined walls 11 and 12, forming the apex 145, thissteam-dome 10 extending the entire width of the car. At the bottom ofthis steam-dome 10 are hinged doors 15, which also form steamjackets 16.These steam-jackets have secured thereto flexible connections 17, whichextend into and communicate with the steam-dome 10, the hopper-doorshaving formed therein the steam-jackets, said doors being so constructedas to form this jacket, and these doors may be opened and closed bythe'usual means. At the lower ends of the hopper-bottom, communicating withsteam-jackets i in the wall 6, I place drain-cocks 18, and likedrain-cocks 19 may also be placed in the lower extremity of the doors.

The operation of my improved system of heating cars is as follows: Whenall suitable connections and couplings have been made,

steam is introduced into the supply-line 7 at one end of the car fromthe engine or other suitable source of supply and will pass first intothe jacket 4 at one end of the car, into the jacket 3 and through jacket9 into the dome 10, into the doors and through the jacket 9 into space 4at other end of the car, and on through line 7 at this latter end of thecar to the next car until the end of the car is reached and in thismanner keeping up a circulation of steam.

It will be seen that by the use of my improved cars a uniformtemperature may be obtained that will prevent the contents of the carfrom freezing, thus saving a great expense and much labor that is nowincurred.

The many other advantages obtained by the use of my improvements will bereadily apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings.

It will be obvious that various slight changes may be made in thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit of myinvention.

Although I have described my invention as being particularly adaptedforthe use of steam, I do not wish to limit myself to this particular use,for the reason that I find that hot Water, hot air, or the like may beadvantageously employed to accomplish the desired results. It will alsobe noted that my improvements may be easily applied to gondola cars,steel box-cars, or any other of the well-known types of steel cars.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a steel car, the combination of double walls formingsteam-jackets, a central dome communicating with said jackets,hopperdoors having steam-jackets formed therein, flexible connectionsleading from said central steam-dome to said steam-jackets formed insaid doors, substantially as described.

2. In a steel car, the combination of double walls formingsteam-jackets, a central dome communicating with said jackets,hopperdoors having steam-jackets formed therein, flexible connectionscommunicating with said hopper-doors, and said steam-dome, anddraincocks arranged at the lower end of said doors, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a steel freight-car, the combination of double walls forming thesides of the car extending partly to the top thereof, inclined sidesforming double walls having drain-cocks arranged at the lower endthereof, a central steam-dome communicating with said double walls,hopper-doors connected to said steamdome having steam-jackets formedtherein, substantially as described.

I. In a. steel car, the combination of double side walls formingsteamjackets, a central steam-dome communicating with said jackets,doors hinged to the lower end of said steamdome, flexible connectionscommunicating with said steam-dome and doors, and means to operate saiddoors, substantially as described.

5. In a steel car, the combination of double side walls formingsteamjackets, a central steam-dome communicating with said steamjackets,a steam train-line communicating with said jackets, hinged doors havingsteam-jackets formed therein, and means to convey the steam from saidsteam-dome into the doors, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in

